Dover, Strafford County
Well Water Treatment in Dover, New Hampshire
Dover sits in the southeastern New Hampshire arsenic belt, where USGS sampling found arsenic above the federal limit in a notable share of bedrock wells. A licensed local contractor can test your well and recommend the right system. Start with a free in-home water test and quote.
Why Dover wells carry these contaminants
Dover is the largest city in Strafford County, with about 32,700 residents along the Cochecho and Bellamy rivers in the Seacoast region. A little over half of its occupied homes are owner-occupied. While much of the city is on public water, homes in the outlying and more rural areas draw from private wells in the bedrock.
Dover sits in what researchers call the southeastern New Hampshire arsenic belt. A USGS study of private bedrock wells in the region found that about 21 percent of wells in Hillsborough and Strafford counties exceeded the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter, a higher rate than the state as a whole.
New Hampshire's enforceable arsenic standard is 5 parts per billion, half the federal limit, and private wells are not tested by any agency. For a Dover-area well owner, that combination, a documented arsenic belt and a strict state standard, makes a test the clear first step.
Around Dover
- Cochecho River
- Bellamy River
- Piscataqua River
- Downtown Dover
- Garrison Hill
Water treatment services available in Dover
These services are provided by the licensed local contractor you are matched with, sized to your Dover well and your home.
Arsenic Treatment
The highest-intent concern on New Hampshire bedrock wells. A licensed contractor sizes a system to your water and the arsenic species present.
Learn moreUranium Treatment
Naturally occurring uranium turns up in parts of New Hampshire bedrock. A contractor typically addresses it with anion exchange or reverse osmosis.
Learn moreRadon in Water Treatment
Waterborne radon is distinct from airborne radon. On bedrock wells a contractor reduces it with aeration or activated carbon.
Learn moreIron and Manganese Treatment
Iron and manganese cause staining, taste, odor, and buildup. Treatment is often bundled with an arsenic or uranium system.
Learn moreWhole-House Water Treatment
Point-of-entry systems treat the water entering the whole home. This is the route to weigh when more than one contaminant is present.
Learn moreReverse Osmosis Systems
Point-of-use drinking-water systems at the kitchen tap, often paired with a whole-house system for the rest of the home.
Learn moreCommon well water issues in the Dover area
In the Strafford County arsenic belt, arsenic is the headline contaminant, and it frequently comes with iron and manganese that stain fixtures, plus uranium and radon from the same bedrock. Because arsenic rates here run above the statewide average, a contractor pays particular attention to the arsenic result and to whether the species present calls for a pre-oxidation step before the main treatment.
How to test and treat your Dover well
Testing is straightforward. You can send a sample to a New Hampshire accredited laboratory, order a test kit, or have the licensed local contractor we connect you with run a free in-home test. NHDES recommends a standard analysis every three to five years, with bacteria and nitrate tested yearly.
If you are buying or selling a Dover home, water comes up at the closing table. New Hampshire requires sellers of one-to-four-family homes to disclose details about the private water supply, including the date of the most recent water test, and a separate state notification reminds buyers that radon and arsenic can occur in New Hampshire well water and that testing is recommended.
The treatment path is the same three steps everywhere we work: request a free in-home test, the contractor tests your Dover water and reviews the results with you, and you receive a written, itemized quote with no obligation.
Nearby areas we serve
See all areas we serveDover well water questions
Is arsenic really more common around Dover?
A USGS study found that about 21 percent of private bedrock wells in Hillsborough and Strafford counties exceeded the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter, a higher rate than the state as a whole. That is why a test matters in the Dover area.
My Dover home is on city water. Does this apply to me?
This service is for homes on private wells. Much of Dover is on public water, but outlying and rural homes often have private wells. If your home draws from a well, a test is the way to know your arsenic level.
How do I get a Dover well tested?
Use a New Hampshire accredited laboratory or request a free in-home test from the licensed local contractor we connect you with. Given the local arsenic rates, NHDES guidance to test on a regular schedule is worth following.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, QuickFacts: Dover, New Hampshire
- USGS, Arsenic in Private Bedrock Wells in Southeastern New Hampshire (FS-051-03)
- NHDES, Private Wells
- NHDES, Suggested Water Quality Testing for Private Wells (DWGB-2-1)
- New Hampshire RSA 477:4-d (private water supply disclosure)
- New Hampshire RSA 477:4-a (radon, arsenic, and lead notification)
Get your Dover well tested
A licensed local contractor will test your water, explain the results, and give you a written quote. No obligation.